On Sunday, more than 2,500 athletes will stand in the sand of Lake Tahoe's north shore, feeling the cool chill in the air, ready to swim the frigid waters to start one of the most grueling endurance events known – the Lake Tahoe Ironman Triathlon.

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The race will include a 2.4-mile swim starting at the Kings Beach State Recreation Area, a 112-mile bike ride and a full marathon.

The start

Once the gun sounds, the athletes will enter the water, swimming two full laps around the buoyed course.

Then, they exit the swim and complete a lakeside transition to the 112-mile bike course, which covers the Resort triangle. It takes riders to Tahoe City, through the Truckee River corridor, following the Truckee River past Squaw Valley and into the town of Truckee.

Next, the course turns south back toward the lake, rolling past NorthStar California and starting the climb to Brockway Summit, a 7,200-foot elevation.

The athletes then transition from the 112-mile ride to run a marathon, winding 26.2 miles along the Truckee River.

Those three events are raced in that order and without a break. The event ends at Squaw Valley, home to the 1960 Winter Olympics.

Local impact

Officials announced the Tahoe Ironman a year ago. The event sold out within 18 hours. The North Lake Tahoe Resort Association expects 10,000 fans to watch the all-day race.

The Tahoe region signed a five-year deal to host the Ironman.

"Like paddleboarding, kayaking, hiking, biking and of course, skiing, this event is part of the Tahoe area's brand," Chief Marketing Officer Andy Chapman said. "We’ve been working on bringing this event here for two years."

Squaw Resort CEO Andrew Wirth said the event is boosting the local economy during a time that is typically slow.

"It creates a huge economic boost, particularly this time of year," Wirth said. "Late September, early October, the interest in the area drops off."

The region is reporting a 40 percent increase in hotel rentals, compared to a year ago.

Local restaurants and businesses also hope to cash in.

"We are ready for it. We are opening a little early for the bloody mary crowd," said Tom Ballou, of the Bar of America in Truckee. "A lot of people have been talking it up. These sports events are a new twist to the area, rather than skiing or water sports."

Ironman road closures

According to the state Department of Transportation, closures will include:

- Northbound Highway 89 from Fairway Drive in Tahoe City to Squaw Valley Road, from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.